applying for job with no previous flying job

[QuasarZ]

Hi, just curious if anyone has had experience with applying to a regional when you have had no previous or current flying job. Do they look down upon this? My family owns an aztec and I planned on flying this for a couple hundred hours until I reach some of the mins out there.. 600/50 or so.. If I do this, I will have 600/360 but with no real flying job. What do interviewers say about this way of getting your multi time?
Thanks in advance!

 

[skiandsurf]

.............

 

[Edge540]

Hi, just curious if anyone has had experience with applying to a regional when you have had no previous or current flying job. Do they look down upon this? My family owns an aztec and I planned on flying this for a couple hundred hours until I reach some of the mins out there.. 600/50 or so.. If I do this, I will have 600/360 but with no real flying job. What do interviewers say about this way of getting your multi time?
Thanks in advance!

You're going to want to get some type of employment....... Before I got the job I have today I got "Wow. You have never had a job flying before." at my first interview. I had 1100 hours and 250 multi at that point. Needless to say, they didn't hire me. I quickly got all 3 instructor ratings and taught for almost a year. Today, I am very very glad that I did. It is absolutely amazing how much I learned in that 700 hours of instructing.

My advice, get some type of job (Instructing / Freight / Something) before interviewing with the regionals. But the hiring scene is completely different now than it was then. Regionals can't get enough pilots right now, so who knows.......

 

[andym037]

I recently "walked in" a resume for friend of mine who owns a twin commanche. He had no aviation employment history at all, and all of his time was from flying around his own plane. This was when I was still at Trans States (early dec 2006), and they would not even interview him. They said they wanted to see some CFI'ing or similar experience.

 

[mosyslack]

I only have 900 hrs as CFI and those were some of the most beneficial hours I have ever flown. It's a great experience and does help when it comes time to be on the other side of a training event...not to mention, you even get paid to fly, well, kinda.

Good luck

 

[QuasarZ]

I recently "walked in" a resume for friend of mine who owns a twin commanche. He had no aviation employment history at all, and all of his time was from flying around his own plane. This was when I was still at Trans States (early dec 2006), and they would not even interview him. They said they wanted to see some CFI'ing or similar experience.

yea.. thats kinda what I am worried about.

 

[145EXR]

well, your family has an aztec so multi time wont be an issue..get your cfi ratings and work for a while with no worries about multi time (wish i was able to do that many yrs ago..lol)...if you dont want to instruct try banner towing,pipleine patrol, traffic watch or even a 135 outfit that needs two pilots per their ops specs (otherwise you cant log it as sic)...these days there are plenty of entry level jobs out there..good luck!

 

[Guitar Guy]

To chime in with a different experience, I was hired into a regional with no previous flying job. I went from a desk job to flying with no CFI-ing, though I was working on getting my CFI. A friend of mine from the same company also made the move to the same regional with no CFI or previous flying job.

It can be done, but it certainly helps if you have a good internal recommendation and present yourself well in the interview.

 

[Weasil]

I know several people who got hired at regionals straight out of college, no previous flying jobs. They did RJ courses at places like ATP and got hired immediately.

 

[G2T]

You are the envy of many people here right now, job or not. You have a way to get that magical multi time to put on the resume. As short as many of the regionals are right now on FOs, get the time (and enjoy flying without a purpose while you can, go somewhere, bring a friend) and start filling out applications to wherever you want to work. You may be surprised who calls you back. Also, as others have said, if you know anyone who can give an internal rec, that might be your ticket in. You never know unless you start applying!

 

[Amish RakeFight]

I would say at least get the CFI certificate. Might even be a good idea to get the MEI and teach in the twin. A good MEI is always welcomed.

 

[ceo_of_the_sofa]

Get an MEI and have somebody pay for gas while they build multi with you. Log it as dual given. Bingo.

 

[NW Flyer]

Get an MEI and have somebody pay for gas while they build multi with you. Log it as dual given. Bingo.
__________________

Bango. Bongo.

 

[rickair7777]

Normally, airlines would only hire you AFTER they had exhuasted all similar candidates who had professional experience. But with the current demand, I'd say you have a decent shot...

However I would strongly advise getting a CFI and teaching a few hours on the side...

1) This will punch the pro ticket
2) It will expose you to the level of knowledge you will need at an airline interview, and keep you thinking about it. The commercial oral is a joke, and it is a dusty memory for you. The CFI's you will be competing with live it and breath it every day.
3) If hiring slows down, you have a fallback position.

I would also do CFI ASE, not ME at this point. MEI work is dangerous, and your time is pretty low.

 

[QuasarZ]

Thanks for all the replies. I started to do my CFI rating this semester but had to put it on hold due to my course load. I hope to get that done sometime soon though! As some if you have said about internal recs, I have many at the majors and a few at some regionals. Both my grandpas flew for, and my uncle and dad fly now for the same major

 

[G2T]

MEI work is dangerous, and your time is pretty low.

It's only as dangerous as you let it be. Not only that, but you never have to sign the solo papers on that one. I enjoyed teaching multi/mei alot.